Corona Resort in Phu Quoc will ban local gambling starting Jan 1, 2025, as the government reviews the program, impacting Vietnam's only casino open to locals.
Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc will temporarily ban local gambling starting January 1, 2025. This suspension comes after an amendment to the 2017 decree that allowed the program, pending a government review on whether it will continue.
The decision follows an amendment to a 2017 decree that initially established the pilot scheme. This decree permitted select Vietnamese citizens, meeting specific financial criteria, to gamble at designated casinos. Corona Resort & Casino was the sole venue operating under this program since its launch in 2019.
A notice on the resort's website confirmed the suspension is "to ensure full compliance with current legal regulations while preparing for adjustments in accordance with future policies."
The resort assures that international customers will not be affected and can continue to access casino services. They also emphasized their commitment to preserving benefits for Vietnamese customers during the suspension period and promised to provide timely updates as new regulations are issued.
Prior to this pilot, gambling was largely illegal for Vietnamese citizens, with exceptions for state lotteries and some sports betting. Several casinos cater exclusively to foreign passport holders. The pilot program introduced specific economic criteria for local gamblers, details of which were not publicly disclosed.
The 2017 decree introducing the pilot program was initially intended to run for three years. However, its implementation coincided with the opening of Corona Resort in 2019. This meant the program's operational period was shorter than originally planned.
Reports from VietNamNet in August and confirmed in November indicated that authorities intended to maintain the program until at least the end of the calendar year. This recent announcement signifies a shift in that stance, indicating a more comprehensive review is underway.
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